Lasting-machine.



G. H. CLARK. I LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1912.

1 ,O57,804. Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

//1' Win/eases; jnueniozfif G. H. CLARK.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1912.

Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

a sums-sum 2..

fnven/iorx with ease-s G. H. CLARK.

LASTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1912.

1,057,804. Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UNITED STATES EATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. CLARK, OF VVINTHIROP, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN J. 3113135, TRUSTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LASTING-MACHINE.

Application filed June 28, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Winthrop, in .the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in LastingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lasting-maehines for boots and shoes, and involves means for shaping the uppers on the lasts preparatory to applying the soles.

The invention has for its ob ectthe production of a clamping-form comprising an upper forming .plate havin a recess corresponding to the shape 0 the tore-part and shanl'-portion of a last, and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last and cause it to conform to the shape of the last; and also comprising a flexible toe-forming plate for causing the upperto conform to the toe-portion of the last, said toe-forming plate also serving as a rest for the toe-portion of the last; and also comprising laterally movable sup 'aorting-members for said plates, and means to move them to deflect the plates.

The. invention also comprehends means to thrust the lastv with upper thereon'forward or in a direction toward the toe ;:and also means to depress the toe-portion of the last with upper thereon, thereby to force said fire-portion of the last snugly intoengagement with the forming-plates.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a'lastingmachine embodying this invention. F g. '2 is a plan View of the lasting-machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end View of the means to operate the clan'iping-form. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the clampingtorm in open position. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the clamping-form 1n rlosed position. Fig. 6 is an edge view of Specification of Letters Patent Patented Apr. 1, 1913. Serial Nb. 706,371.

thereon; 13 a rotatable base; 14 and 15 upright posts erected on said base each formed at its upper end with a recess to receive the ends of the supporting-members 20, 21 of the clamping-form and thereby removably supporting said form. The supporting memhers20 and 21 are here shown as blocks which are longer than the last and made as opposites and inclose a sole-shaped recess of larger dimensions than the last and said members are adapted for lateral movement one with relation to the other or with respectto each other, the recesses at the 'upper ends of the upright posts being made wide enough to admit. of lateral movement. of the ends of the blocks. The members 20 and 21 are arranged in a horizontal plane and extended lengthwise the block and at one end of the last they are arranged for rocking engagement, and, as here shown, the member 20 has a recess 22 on its side adjacent the member 21 to receive a knuckle 23 on said member 21, thereby to permit of a rocking movement of the member 21 on and with respect to the member 20, and thus provide for lateral movement of the member 21 with respect to the member 20. The forward ends of said members outside of their engaging points are connected together by a spring 25, which acts, when permitted, to draw said ends together and thereby to separate the opposite. ends of said members to open the form and to hold the end of the member 20 against one end wall of the recess in the upright post 14 and the corresponding end of the member 21 in engagement with the means employed for moving said member 21 laterally. As a means to move said member 21 laterally a cam 26 is here shown, which is pivoted at 27 and has a hand-lever 28 for turning it. The pivot of said cam is adjustably supported, so that the position of the camrelative to the member 21 may be changed,'and for this purpose a block 28 is adjustably' secured to the upright post 14 by a bolt 30. The cam enters a groovt! formed in the member 21 and when turned acts to move said member and also to hold it in any position it may be set. As the cam is turned on its pivot in one direction the end of the member 21 is moved inward causing said member to rock on its engaging point with the member 20 and itSQPPOSltG or forward end to engage one end wall of the recess in tne upright post 15, and as said end wall serves as an abutment which resists further movement of said forward end of the member 2-1 upon further inward movement of the rear end of said member that movement of the member 21 on] mav be sulficient.

In lieu of providing supporting-moinhers, as here shown, other supporting-mean may be provided adapted for lateral movement to deflect the forming-plates which thcyare adapted to support, to cause said plates to .snugly engage th uppeigon the last and cause said upper to correctly r ulorm tn the shape of the last.

An upper-forming plate 35 is arranged on said supportingmcmhers 530, or other supports which may be provided therefor, said plate having a recess 36, corresponding to the shape of the tore-part and shanlepon tion of a last, and said plate. at. the edge of said recess, extends over the edges of the supportingmeu'illei-s,as shown in Fig. l, so as to engage the upper on the last while the supporting-men ers are rei'uotely disposed with respect thereto. Said plate is ronr posed of material which is slightly yielr ling. such for inst anrc, as sole-leather, so that it; may be delha-trd, and its side portions caused to snugly ei'igage the upper all around the tore-part and shank-portion of the last, thereby t cause said ttppttllt) conform to the shape of the last. Said plate is detaehahly connected with i 3 supporting members by n'zeans of screws or otherwise, so that. plates having rec s of dillerent shapes and sizes for dili'erent styles and sizes of boots and shoes may be employed. It will be noted that the upper-forming plate is composed of a single piece of leather or other equiralent mater' so that there is no joint at the toe, and is, therefore. to be contrasted with a form having laterally movable clamping-members. Said upperforming plate also serves as an additional means to connect together the two supporting-members 20, 21.

At the toe-end of the upper-forming plate 35 a toe-forming plate 38 is arranged, which is also detachably conne't-ted with the supporting-members, usually y the same screws employed for detachacv connecting the upper-forming plate therewith, and said toe forming plate extends over the toe;portion of the upper-forming plate and is made of flexible material, such for instance, as upper-leather, so that at the toe-portion of the upper-forming plate it may be formed with a recess or cavity to receive the toe-portion of the last. The toe-forming plate, when thus formed, his the toe-portion of the last with upper thereon, and causes the upper at such point to tightly engage and accurately conform to the shape of the last.

The last, with upper thereon, when placed in the form, reposes on a suitable rest, here shown as the head. 40, of an adj listing-screw, arranged at the top of an upright arm 41, pivoted at 42, to an ear on the base 13. Said rest located beneath the heel-portion of the last and limits downwardmovement of the last, and is made adjustable for lasts of different heights.

As a means to thrust the last, with upper thereon, forward, or in a direction toward the toe, an upright arm 50 is arranged at the heehend of the last which ll; attached to the pivoted post. or rest-support 4-1,. being ad justahlv arranged thereon, and said restsupport t1 has an arm 5]v extended from it, at right angles to it. which is engaged by the upper end of a trundle-rod so that upon depression of a treadle 53 to which the lower end of the. i'readlerod is connected, said rest-support ll and arm 50 will be moved and the lit-wt. thrust forward, and the t ,o-}') rl =tm thereo'l' util sed to snugly engage the flexible toe-forn'iing plate 38. Said treadlz has a projection 54- to engage any one of the teeth ot a plate which is seured to the standard 10, thereby to lock the treadle when depres ed, and also look the last. with upper thereon, in its forward position.

As a means to force the t0cport-ion of the last with upper thereon down into the clamping-forn'i, so as to snugly engage the upper-forming plate and toe-forming plate, av plunger (30, made as a plate and. attached to a hand-lever (S1, is arranged above the ball of the last, or there-about, and said hand-lever pivoted at 62. to a swiveled post (35, and is normally held with'the plunger in elevated position by a. spring 03, and

is normally swung to one side, (see Fig. 2).

.usual or suitable manner, or in case an inners0le is employed, said inner-sole may be applied to the last before it is placed in the form and finally the outer-sole applied.

One method of operating the machine is a follows :-The last with upper thereon is placedin the machine with its toe end resting on the flexible toe plate and its heel end engaging the rest; then the clamping form operated to engage the upper and cause it to conform to the last: then the last with upper thereon is thrust forward and then the toe portion of the last is thrust downward. As the recess in the clamping form is usually made to conform to the shape of the last, but a slight yielding movement only is required exceptto compensate for different sizes, and it will be understood that each upper-forming plate will be cmplo ed for but a few sizes, it being readily detac ied to efiable-other forming plates to be employed' The forward and downward movements are also slight and may be made easily after the clamping form has been operated.

I claim j 1. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper forming plate having recess air responding to the shape of the fore-part and sl em lmportion of a last, to engage the upper continuously all around the fore-part and shank-portions of the last, said plate being made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, two laterally movable supporting-members to which said yielding plate is attached, which extend lengthwise the last and beyond each end thereof, and means to move said members laterally to deflect. the plate, substantially described.

:2. ln lastinganachine. the combinationof an upper forming plate having a recess COI'IESPOIHllHg to the shape. of the fore-partand shanlcportion of a last to engage the upper continuously all around the foiepart and shank-portion of the last, said plate being made yielding to admit cl its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, two laterally movable. suppmting-memhers to which said yielding plate is attached, which extend lengthwise the last and be yond each end thereof and engage each other at the toe end of the lash and means to move. said members to, deflect the plate. sulr starltially as described.

3. in a lasting-niacinne, the combination of an upper forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shanlrportion of a last, to engage the upper continuously all around the lorepart and shankportions of the last, said plate being made yielding to admit .of its being deflected tolsnugly engage the upper on the last, two laterally movable supporting-members to which said yielding plate is attached. which extend lengthwise the last and beyond each end thereof, and supports for said members which admit of a lateral movement thereof; and means to move said members' laterally to defiwt the plate, substantially as described.

4. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last, to en age the upper-continuously all around the ore-part and shank-portions of the last, said plate being made yielding to admit of its being defiected to snugly cnga'e the upper on the last, two laterally mova le supporting-members to which said yielding plate is attached, which extend lengthwise the last and beyond each end thereof, end supports forsaid members having recesses to receive the ends of the members and permit a limited relative lateral movement thereof, and means to move said members laterally to deflect the plate, substantially as described.

5. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last, to en age the upper continuously all around the ore-part and shank-portions of the last, said plate being made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, two laterally movable supporting-members to which said yielding plate is attached, which extend lengthwise the last and be- 5 yond each end thereof, end supports on which said members are removably placed, and means to move said members, substantiallyas described. I

6. In a lasting-machine, the combination 100 of an upper forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shanloportion of a last, to engage the upper continuously all around the fore-part andshank-portions of the last, said plate 105 being made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, two laterally movable supporting-memhere to which said yielding plate is attached,

which extend lengthwise the last and be- 10 yond each end thereof, end supports for said members which admit of a limited relatiwe lateral movement thereof, and means en aging one cud of one of the members which acts to more said member laterally and in turn to move the other member, substantially as described.

T. in a lasting machine, the combination of an upper forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last, to engage the upper continuously all around the fore-part and shank-portions of the last, said plate being made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upperon the last, two laterally movable supporting-members to which said yielding plate is-attached, which extend lengthwise the last and beyond each end thereof, a spring arranged between the ends of the members at the toe 13o ing to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, a flexible toeformmg plate extended overthe toe-portion of said upper-forming plate, and movable supporting-means, both of said plates being detachably connected with said supportingmeans, substantially as described.

9. In a lasting-machine, the combination.

of an upper-forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the ore-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, a flexible toeterming plate, movable supporting-members for said plates and means for moving said members, substantially as described.

10. In a lastingurmcbine, the combination of an npper-forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-porti0n of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper .on the last. a flexible toeforming plate, laterally movable supportingmembers for said plates. means to detachablv connect said plates with said members, and means for. moving said members. sulr stantially as described.

11. In alastingm achine. the combination of an upper-forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last. a flexible toeforming plate extended over the toe-portion of said upper-forming plate, movab e supporting-niembers for said plates incl Fl.- ing a recess larger than the recess in the 1 per-forming plate. and means to move said members to. deflect said plate. substantially as described. 7

12. In a lasting-imichinc, the combination of an upper-forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore pa'rtv and shanlcportion of a'last and madevielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last. a pair oi sup porting-members torsaid plate inclrsing' a recess larger than the recess in the upperforming plate. over the edge of which said upper-forming plate extends. said support ing-members engaging each other at the toecnd of the upper-forn'iing plate. permitting movement of one member with relation to the other to deflect the upper-forming plate. and means for moving said member. substantially as described.

13. n a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper-forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, apair'of supporting-members arranged in a horizontal plane to which said plate is connected, said members inclosing a recess larger than the recess in the plate and said plate serving as the means to connect said members to gether, means to move said members in one direction to cause the plate to yieldingly engage the upper on the last, and means to move said nicmbcrs in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

14. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the f0re-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, a pair of supporting-members'for said plate inclosing a recess larger thanthe recess in the upperforming plate, one adapted to rock upon the other. and means for making said mom; her to deflect the lPPPY-ftlllllllg plate, substantially as described? 15. In a lasting'machine, the. combination of an upperforming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape ot' the fore-part andshank-portion of a last: and made yield- I ing to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, two support ing-members to which said plate is connected. which incloses a recess larger than the !8((i4 i in the upper-forming plate over the edge of which said plate extends, supporting-means for said members which admit of movement time member with respect; to the oth r to deflect the u .iper-forniing plate. and means to more said member Wllltll acts to hold it in any position it may be set, substantially as described. I

lit. In a lastingmachine. the combination of an npper-forniingplate having a.rc:ress cnrrespomling to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion ot' a last and made yieldin; to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last. laterally novable supporting-nicl'nbers for said plate,'

means for moving said members. a rest for the last with upper thereon. and movable means toengage the heel-end of the last and thrust it forward, substantially as described.

17. In'a lasting-machine the combination of an ripper-forming late having arecess corresponding to the s ape of the fore-part. and shank-portion of a last and made yield ing to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on thelast. laterally movable supportingmembers for :said plate, means for moving said members, a rest for the last with upper thereon, movable means to engage the heel-end of the last and thrust it forward, and means to lock said'movablemeans with the last in its forward position, substantially as described.

of an upper-forming late having a recess corresponding to the s ape of the fore-part and shankortion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflectedto snugly en age the upperon the last, laterally movab e su porting-members for said plate, means or moving saidmembers, a rest for the last with up er thereon, a plunger for engaging the bal of the last to depress the toe-portion thereof, a hand-lever to which said plunger is attached, which acts to move the plunger into engagement with the ball of the last and to de ress the toe-portion thereof, and a swive ed support for said hand-lever, substantiall as described.

19. In a lasting-machme, the combination of an upper-forming late having a recess corresponding to the s ape of the fore-part and shankortion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last a flexible toeformmg plate, laterally movable supportingmembers for said plates, means for moving said members, a rest for the last with upper thereon, and movable means to engage the ball of the last and depress it and cause its toe-portion to snugly engage the toe-forming plate, substantially as described.

20. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper-forming late having a recess corresponding to the s ape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last a flexible toeformlng plate, laterally movable supportingmombers for said plates, means for moving said members, a rest for the last with upper thereon, and movable means to engage the heel-end of the last and thrust it forward and cause its toe-portion to snugl engage the toe-forming plate, substantiali; as described.

21. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper-forming )late having a recess corresponding to the s ape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly engage the upper on the last, a flexible toeformmg plate, laterally movable supportingmembers for said plates, means for moving said members, a rest for the last with upper thereon, movable means to engage the heelend of the last and thrust it forward, and

movable means to engage the ball of the last and de ress the toe-portion thereof, subj stantial y ,as described. 18. In a lasting-machine, the combination 22. In a lasting-machine, the combination of an upper-forming late having a recess corresponding to the s ape of the fore-part and shank-portion of a last and made yielding to admit of its being deflected to snugly on age the upper on the last, laterally mova is supporting-members for said plate, and means for moving said members, a rest for the last with upper thereon, a pivoted support therefor, an upright-arm attached to the rest-sup ort for engagement with the heel-end of t e last, and means to move said rest-support and arm to move the last in a forward direction, substantially as described.

23. In a lasting-machine, the combination of a yielding upper-forming plate having a recess corresponding to the shape of the fore-part and shank-portion of the last, a

air of laterally movable supporting-mem- Eers inclosing a sole-shaped recess, said recess being of larger-dimensions than the recess in the upper-forming plate whereby the edge of said plate about the recess extends over the recess inrosed by the sup porting-members, hand-o erated means to move said supporting-members and cause the upper-forming plate to engage the upper on the last which acts to hold said members in any position they may be set, and means, operatin to separate said members "when permitte to act, substantially as described.

24. In a lasting-machine, the combination of a yielding upper-forming plate having a recess corres onding to the shape of the fore-part an shank-portion of the last, a pair of laterally movable supporting-memers inclosing a sole-shaped recess, said recess being of larger dimensions than the recess in the upper-forming plate whereby the edge of said plate about. the recess extends over the recess inclosed by the supporting-members, a cam engagin one of said supporting-members to move it toward the other member having means for operating it, and means, operating to separate said sup orting-membcrs when permitted to act, su stantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my .name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE l-l. CLARK. Witnesses:

B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. I 

